The OPP says a motorist collided with an ambulance who was already transporting a patient in Pembroke.
Constable Shawn Peever of the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP says that on Tuesday, around noon, a 16-year-old female driver collided with an ambulance on Pembroke Street West near Munroe Street. The ambulance’s lights and sirens were not activated and it was slowed down in traffic. The driver then rear ended the ambulance where another ambulance had to be called in order to transfer the patient. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the incident.
The driver was charged with following too closely under the Highway Traffic Act.
Peever advises drivers to keep a safe distance between cars in stop and go traffic during this busy holiday season.
Ironically enough, Peever also says that earlier that morning (around 10:00 AM) there was a separate collision in the same area involving a motorist who collided with an OPP cruiser. In that case, the cruiser was responding to a call and its lights and siren were activated. A 40-year-old female was charged with turn not in safety under the Highway Traffic Act. Luckily, no one was hurt.
The OPP also released this statement
“Drivers are reminded that the law requires them to bring their vehicle to a stop as near as is practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway when an emergency vehicle is approaching from any direction with its emergency equipment activated.”.